Autism and Law Enforcement

Jan 12, 2024

A Guide for Police Officers and for Families of People with Autism

For Police Officers:

As police officers, you are most often the first ones called in emergent situations and the first to arrive on the scene. You are required to assess complex situations and make decisive, rapid decisions to address the problems at hand. You encounter a wide variety of individuals while working in these difficult, high stress situations. Among the individuals that you assist may be someone with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), more commonly known as autism. Because of a variety of factors, autism has become more prevalent in recent years. As of 2020, one in every thirty-six children was diagnosed with ASD, and it is four times more common among males than among females. [1]

Source: CDC – Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autistic people may react differently than others when they are faced with unfamiliar and/or stressful situations. Without further context, their behavior may appear to be defiant or dangerous, so it is important for you to be able to quickly recognize the signs of autism. You may need to alter your approach in a situation if it involves an autistic person in order to maintain a safe and calm environment.

Autism is a spectrum, and there is a wide range of behaviors that an autistic individuals may exhibit. Below, we have included some commonly exhibited behaviors:

Impaired sense of danger: Autistic people may not have the sense of danger or a fear of injury/death that others possess. A common example of this is wandering. Autistic people may wander away from their home or other safe environment to bodies of water, into traffic, or into other dangerous situations.

Project Lifesaver is a program designed to provide a quick response to dangerous situations of people who may wander, like persons with autism, through GPS monitoring. To learn how your local agency can implement this program, click here.

For more information on wandering, see Wandering Tips for First Responders and Autism & Wandering.

Anxiety and fear: Autistic people may be more anxious and fearful than others, especially when confronted by persons in uniform; however, they may also become curious about your uniform and unfamiliar equipment they see, such as a shiny badge, handcuffs or gun. If the situation allows, try to avoid quick movements and loud noises and do not touch or grab the individual unless absolutely necessary.

Impaired communication: Autistic people may have impaired communication skills including unresponsiveness to commands, impaired eye contact, and/or delayed speech and language skills or the absence of language. They may not respond to verbal commands or their own name, and they may seem to ignore your presence or instructions. It is important to be patient. Use simple language and clear and concise sentences or commands. Give them time to process what you have said and respond.

Other behaviors: Autistic people may exhibit other signs, such as repetitive behaviors including rocking, stimming, and hand flapping. They may have sensory perception issues to loud sirens and bright lights, and they may also have epilepsy or seizure disorder(s). Again, it is important to avoid sudden movements or loud noises. You should only touch them if necessary. You should look for signs of increased agitation or frustration and try to remedy it by removing the stimulus that is troubling them.

If available, their caregiver can give you the most helpful information about how to interact with autistic people.

Current research suggests law enforcement personnel be specifically trained on how to interact with and assist autistic people in order to make interactions more positive and effective for all parties involved.

The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards offers an online training program for law enforcement officers that covers the basics of autism and provides scenarios to prepare officers for interacting with autistic people in the field. To learn more, click here.

For Families of People with Autism

Safety is the number one concern when it comes to your autistic loved ones, especially when they find themselves in an emergency or dangerous situation. Below are some steps to consider taking before a situation like this arises.

Develop a Safety Plan: Evaluate common settings such as the home, school, church, and other community places for potential risks. Try to take steps to reduce those potential risks. [12]

Inform those who will be around your loved one of their individual behaviors and how to best care for them in your absence, including making sure that exits are not easily accessible.
If possible, familiarize your loved one with their environments and give them a consistent place to meet you if they ever get lost.

Identification: Have your loved one always wear an ID bracelet or some other form of identification that has your name and updated contact information.

If available, consider contacting your local law enforcement agency and provide them with your loved one’s name and description and your contact information. Some agencies may have forms you can fill out with this information and a photo of your loved that they can keep on file at the precinct.

GPS Monitoring: Consider utilizing a GPS monitor or a location tracking phone application to easily find your loved one’s location, especially if they are known to wander.

Project Lifesaver is a program designed to provide a quick response to dangerous situations of people who may wander, like persons with autism, through GPS monitoring by law enforcement personnel.
To see if it is available in your area, click here.
To enroll your loved one, click here.
AngelSense is a GPS tracking device with assistive speaker phone make specifically for persons with autism that is worn as a pendant or a watch.
Other mobile phone applications include Find My on iPhone (can be used to track another mobile phone or an Apple AirTag) and Life360 for both iPhone and Android devices.

Prepare Your Loved for What to Expect:

If possible, have a conversation with your loved one about what to do if they are approached by a police officer or if they are involved in a routine traffic stop.

Discuss with them what the police will be wearing and what types of questions they will ask them.

If possible, tell them to ask the police to contact you and teach them how to show the police officer your contact information.

Some topics to discuss with your loved one include:

Do your best to tell the police officer you have autism.
Always show your hands. Never put your hands in your pockets or grab for something in a bag.
Do not run. Stay with the officer.
Don’t attempt to touch, hug or grab something from the officer or their police dog.
Try not to stand too close to the officer.
If you don’t understand something, let the officer know.

It may be helpful for you to utilize drawings, games or other crafts to facilitate this conversation with your loved one, based on their needs.

BE SAFE The Movie is a series of videos with real actors with autism that illustrates scenarios with law enforcement and how to respond.

Autism Speaks has created an Autism Safety Kit with resources and print outs to help your keep your loved one safe and protected.

Article by: JT Exum and The Autism ToolKit